I am a major procrastinator which means that I have caused my own needless stress over the past six decades. In my youth, it sometimes served me well. I was able to use the stress of doing something the last minute as a way to super focus on the task at hand and could get my creative juices flowing. I would have an essay or story due the next day in school when I had been given over a week to write it. Instead, I would dream about what I was going to write and get up early, write the essay and turn it in that morning usually with good results. As I've grown older I have found that I get increasingly less focused and more nervous if life doesn't go as I think it should. Stress puts me in a crabby, agitated mood.

Regarding discussions with people who have different opinions than mine...I enjoy them. Sometimes, I can make them see my point and other times they can sway my opinions to their way of thinking. Diversity in life makes for a more interesting world.

Without some stress many of us would be slugs. I think the main thing is to figure out a way to constructively handle stress and not let it turn into something that distorts and deforms our ability to function.

I don't mind talking to people with different points of view as long as everyone has a handle on being able to discuss without arguing. I despise arguing. Some people really don't know the difference and seem to get very defensive whenever you discuss key topics. When I was working, we all agreed that at lunch we wouldn't talk about religion, politics, or how to raise other people's children. It still left us with plenty to discuss and we could eat in peace without someone having an aneurysm when you said something you thought was reasonable but someone else thought was heresy or outrageous.

"When I was working, we all agreed that at lunch we wouldn't talk about religion, politics"

....you have a very intellectual work office, my lunchtime today was me and my fellow co-workers attempting to come up with a plan to get free capri-sun out of the capri-sun people who had parked their van outside.

Stress can be a good thing, up to a point. It can get you moving (especially helpful in an emergency), but if it goes on too long, it can paralyze you.

I love discussing things with people up to a point -- the point where someone gets nasty, threatening, or condescending. I'm usually good at seeing all sides of an issue (whether I agree with certain viewpoints or not, I can still see where the other person is coming from). However, if the person I'm talking to starts to blow up because, of course only their way is the right way, that's usually the end of the conversation on my part.

On the other hand, I've had great conversations with people who will never agree with me on certain issues, and we can argue them forever, but with respect towards each other.

A certain amount of stress is, I think, is part of the human condition. Emotional stress if not addressed can actually worsen some physical health problems.
So, on the whole, no I pretty much don't like stress and work to avoid or limit it as much as possible.

Stress can be helpful and okay if it isn't too often or too severe.I enjoy discussions when others have a different opinion as long as each side is willing to accept to respect if not accept the other's view point.